DEAR MR.

KILMER
by Anne Schraf

THEMES
1. THE CHALLENGES OF GROWING
UP
.Richard has a little chance of communicating with Pa
who is often silent and reserved. Richard can only share
a limited amount of his pain and frustration with Angie
.Richard is a boy with principles and firm beliefs. He
does not give in to the herd mentality or get pressured.
Thus he has to face the bullies in his class when he is
the only person who signs the card for the Schermers.
He also has to face the repercussion of giving up the

Hannah faces challenges of coming from a migrant

German family, new to Iowa county though not new to
the country. Thus, she has to endure pain of ostracism
and rejection by a majority of fearful, unreasonable
classmates and country people

2. LOVE, UNDERSTANDING AND FAMILY

RELATIONSHIP
Pa loves his children but is unable to express it or talk about
buried pain over the loss of his wife and brother. Often lost in
his silence and his thought, this causes some strange barrier
between him and his children
When Gus tells Pa that he has enlisted to joined the war, his
father is shocked and unhappy. It is because Pa actually afraid
of losing Gus in the war like his brother.
After Richards poetic tribute to Kilmer is published in the local
paper, Pas silence is broke. In the end, Richard is able to
share his poetry with Pa, and Pa gives him helpful comments.
A more normal and happy family relationship built on
understanding and communication finally becomes a reality

The Schermer family, in contrast, is a more balanced

and happy one. There is joy, laughter, communication,
music, singing, books and literature in their home.
Richard finds their home an oasis after the silence of
his own family

3. HUMANITY AND FRIENDSHIP GIVE US

HOPE
Being kind to others when they are facing difficulty
reveals the basic goodness of man, and underline our
humanity
When the Schermers tavern was vandalised, Mrs
Hansen asks her class to sign a card of sympathy. The
whole class disobeys her, except Richard.
Mrs Hansen is impressed by the humanity and
friendship shown by Richard and Hannah. When Hannah
wins the role of Lady Liberty, only Richard claps. Their
classmates ostracise them. Hannah, like Kilmer, had
written on the beautiful dream of a world without war.